Latest news

As New Zealand's building industry grows, young builders, like 23-year-old Asadullah Ishaqzada, are rising to meet this demand, with courses such as the NZ Certificate in Carpentry (NZCC) at Unitec|Te Pūkenga.

A new gallery supporting ākonga (students), kaimahi (staff), and Aotearoa’s art and design community has opened at Unitec-Te Pūkenga. Toi o Wairaka has been unveiled inside Building 108, part of the School of Creative Industries’ new facilities in the heart of the Mt Albert campus.

Unitec School of Creative Industries grad film The Last Sunday directed by Unitec | Te Pūkenga Screen Arts graduate, Saito Lilo was announced the winner of the UNESCO Wellington City of Film Best Film Award at this year’s New Zealand international Film Festival (NZIFF) on Saturday night.

We sat down with Unitec Te Pūkenga Architecture alumni, Lindy Ewart and Stu Penno, to talk about what the practice looks for when recruiting staff, and what advice they’d give graduates.

It was the virtual clothing fitting mobile app that Data and AI technical specialist Libby Lavrova developed when she was in Year 12 at Kamo High School in Whangārei that first launched her career in computing, and has taken her on to a coveted role in AI at global tech giant, IBM.

From left to right, Kelsey Chapman, Lukas Faulkner, Saree Biddick, Hunter Challis and Alex de Vries.

Afro-Kiwi writer, director, and producer Alex De Vries has been awarded the 2023 Unitec Bold Innovator Scholarship. De Vries, a recent Master of Creative Practice graduate from Unitec's School of Creative Industries, and his team received the $15,000 scholarship for their groundbreaking music video project, "Trust Issues".

Over the Matariki long weekend, an installation at Takapuna's Waiwharariki Anzac Square celebrated the event with sculptures created by Unitec's School of Architecture second-year design studio.

Unitec Te Pūkenga automotive graduate Jae Kim has been selected as a finalist in the nationwide Hyundai technicians’ competition.

Unitec’s Te Reo Karanga o Wairaka – Tuu Puna, the Wānanga Karanga programme empowering the voices of wāhine Māori through tikanga Māori.

Ground-breaking research into ākonga views of counselling services at secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand has shown a general reluctance to get mental health support from school counsellors, particularly among male ākonga.

Each year Unitec’s Tūāpapa Rangahau ,provides scholarships to students across Unitec’s Masters programs, supporting Unitec students to succeed

Landscape Architecture staff and ākonga featured on Seven Sharp talking about daylighting streams for flood control.

Watch here

In the Media

23/06/2023

Associate Professor and Centre Director Dr Samantha Heath spoke to One News about the findings of soon-to-be released research from the Centre for Research in Education for Healthcare Professionals.

 

A Unitec-produced short film set in South Auckland about a Samoan teenager faced with a life changing decision to help his family has been selected to screen at this year’s New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF)

A low-carbon and regenerative theatre design using bamboo, thatch, earth, and wheat straw has netted Unitec Masters student Abigail Spence the distinction award in the recent TEAM Architects Scholarship awards.

Addressing the demand for advanced industry-focused training, the programme incorporates Mātauranga Māori content to enhance graduates' cultural competency.

Luseane Cains has never been afraid to explore new opportunities, expand her knowledge and confront any challenges standing in her way. The Kupe scholarship recipient graduated as top scholar with her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education this year and crossed the stage to accept her degree in front of her daughter and family.

In the Media

2023 Unitec-Te Pūkenga graduate Fifita Vai ‘Utukakau Latu was interviewed by the New Zealand Herald about how her work as a youth worker in Auckland’s high-security Wiri prison inspired her to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice (Social Practice).

In the Media

Unitec-Te Pūkenga Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Matthew Bradbury, spoke to Kathryn Ryan on Radio NZ's about the making "Space for Water" programme announcement made by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.

Minister for the Environment David Parker joined the Environmental Solutions Research team and industry partners at the Ormiston Hospital site in East Tamaki where Savory Construction are trialing a construction waste recycling system.

Kathryn Billing, a structural steel welder at D&H Steel in Auckland, credits her family for sparking her interest in mechanical engineering. She completed a pre-trades certificate in mechanical engineering at Unitec in Auckland and recommends the program to school leavers interested in the trades.

Hamid Sharifzadeh draws on a wealth of experience and knowledge for his role as the Academic Programme Manager for the School of Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology.

More than 900 ākonga crossed the stage earlier this month to receive their well-earned qualifications at Graduation 2023. An elated crowd of more than 4500 supporters surrounded them and cheered them on at the Auckland Town Hall. 

Unitec’s Business and IT Connect event took place last week, showcasing the strong ties between the institute and industry, proving the format’s effectiveness in bringing together ākonga and employers, while creating valuable connections with industry.

“I’ve got access to the projects and people I can learn from, and that’s invaluable.”

Dr Terri-Ann Berry, Director of Unitec-Te Pūkenga Environmental Solutions Research Centre spoke to TV One's Sunday and Breakfast shows about work the centre is doing to reduce the amount of plastic from construction waste going into landfill.

A unique journey exploring and understanding the intricacies of cybersecurity is underway for thirty new ākonga, who were recently welcomed into the whānau at Unitec-Te Pūkenga . 

Auckland-based Cybersecurity analyst Paul Thomas reckons it’s never too late to study and credits Unitec with helping him ‘find his thing’ after completing its highly-acclaimed cybersecurity programme.

It was a welcome return to Tonga for Unitec’s veterinary nursing team. The veterinary nursing programme has been collaborating with South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) since 2013, taking a veterinary team to Tonga yearly to care for animals on the island.

Professor Helen Gremillion, one of our new Ahorangi at Unitec, arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand from the United States 15 years ago, bringing with her a wealth of experience in research into gender studies and cultural anthropology.

 

Unitec's School of Architecture is preparing as architecture schools globally face up to the significant challenge of training students for the effects of climate change, which are predicted to increase in severity over the coming decades

Listen to Dr Bradbury on RNZ's Nine to Noon

On Friday 24 January, a karakia marked the completion of Stage Four of Building 108 at Unitec. It’s a wonderful milestone to reach and it means electrical engineering ākonga start the new semester in the facility.

Te Pūkenga kaimahi and industry partners explored opportunities to enhance the experience of ākonga and increase engagement with employers at the Northern Region Learning and Teaching Symposium last week. 

Professor Peter de Lange, one of our new Ahorangi (Professors) at Unitec, says his career has taught him that telling stories, acting out roles, and using case studies, sprinkled with humour and honesty have consistently worked to get the best out of the students he mentors.

Three shorts films from Unitec's School of Creative Industries students highlight the wealth of talent emerging from South Auckland

 

Anna Naphalay Sayyavong completed a Master of Business (MBus) with First Class Honours with the aid of a Manaaki scholarship